Good morning! How many people are like me and like to see how low you can get the gas needle before actually filling up? I’m kind of kidding when I say that, but the truth is I tend to not be alarmed when the gas light comes on in any of my vehicles. I wait for a time that is convenient around my schedule to stop and refuel. My wife on the other hand will pull over at the next gas station she finds to not run out of gas.
Or how about when those pesky warning lights appear on the dash telling you that something is not right and if you don’t do something about it, something worse will happen. I currently have two warning lights on in one of my vehicles – low tire pressure and change oil. When the low tire pressure light first came on, I got out of my vehicle to do a physical check to make sure my tire wasn’t completely flat and felt comfortable getting back in and driving off – it has now been a week and I still haven’t done anything about it.
Those warning lights may be annoying, but they are there for a purpose. They are there to keep our car operating at an optimal level and to keep you away from danger!
Did you know that we have a “warning light” for our lives?! It’s called the Bible! The Bible is our guide to living a life that honors God, our Creator, and keeps us from self-inflicted pain. Sadly, pain will come our way in one form or another no matter how much we try to avoid it.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Jesus said this to His disciples after he had finished telling them about the hardships they would face after His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.
Although pain and hardships are inevitable, we can choose to live according to God’s Word to avoid consequences of sinful behavior and experience God’s peace in the midst of the chaos around us.
How do we receive warning signs from God’s Word you ask? In the book of Psalms there is a whole chapter dedicated to God’s Word – Psalm 119. I encourage you to take some time to read through the whole Psalm but I want to highlight a few verses.
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your Word.”
Psalm 119:9
“I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:11
“Your Word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”
Psalm 119:89
“Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105
God’s Word is our guide to purity. Obedience to God’s Word keeps us from sin (missing the mark). God’s Word is eternal, it is always relevant and always true! God’s Word lights our path so we can walk with confidence in taking each step! And so much more!
Just like the warning lights in our vehicles, God’s Word provides truths and principles to live by and warnings of things to stay away from!
When it comes to the warning lights in my vehicle, I tend to think I know better most of the time – ignoring the lights until I am ready to address it. The problem is that I am risking my safety and the safety of the people that ride in the car with me. Whatever I am being warned about could potentially disable the car leaving me and the people with me in a dangerous situation that was avoidable.
The same is true in life. We think we know better sometimes and ignore the “warning lights” provided by God in His Word – until we are ready to address them. But by that time, things may have escalated and now we are dealing with a dangerous situation that was totally avoidable.
Today, lets do our best to make choices in every moment to live according to God’s Word! There is no situation in life that you cannot find guidance from God! Let’s not wait for the “perfect” time or until we are ready, let’s choose to obey God’s Word today and experience freedom from sin and shame!
Heavenly Father, thank You for how You have given us Your Word! It is a love letter from You that continues to bring life if we choose to obey it. You continue to reveal Yourself to us through Your Word and bring peace and hope to our lives! Help us to fall more in love with Your Word – to know it, to understand it, and to live it each day! In Jesus Name – AMEN!
Be Transformed 